Photo by Tom Campbell

Shauna Stapleton has balanced athletics and academics and excelled at both during her undergraduate career.

Some numbers to chew on: More than 800 Purdue Agriculture students achieved Dean’s List or Semester Honors in 2007-08, up more than 33 percent from the previous school year; 71 achieved a perfect 4.0 grade index, up from 53 last year.

“Our students have worked hard this year,” boasts Dale Whittaker, associate dean and director of academic programs.

And perhaps none harder than Shauna Stapleton, an entomology major who is the 2008 winner of the Flora Roberts Award as the top senior female student at Purdue. Stapleton, from Springfield, Ohio, is the fifth Purdue Agriculture student to win the Roberts Award and the fourth in the last five years, following Stephanie Warner, BS ’04, Tanya Hadley, BS ’06, and Rachel Cumberbatch, BS ’07. Melissa Ashlock, BS ’80, was the first ag student to win the award.

The Flora Roberts Award is presented annually to a graduating senior who has attained a minimum of a 3.0 graduation index and who best exemplifies the characteristics of scholarship, leadership and character.

A committee of students and a representative of the Office of the Dean of Students selects the winner from the nominations submitted by faculty and staff.

“Shauna has what it takes to be a world-changer,” says Whittaker, “dedication, perseverance, intellect, creativity, wisdom and immense energy.”

Stapleton recently completed a Maymester course in Costa Rica. In early June she headed off to Disney World in Orlando for a seven-month professional entomology internship at the Epcot Center.

“I will be raising insects that are beneficial to the greenhouses, maintaining displays on harmful insects, and giving tours through Epcot,” Stapleton says.

But as she left campus for her “I’m going to Disney World” moment, she almost needed a U-Haul to carry all the awards and honors she achieved during her Purdue career.